Sebatu as Center of Spiritual Tourism, Good for Purificatory Rite

PROBABLY you have been familiar with exploring the spiritual tourist destinations throughout Bali. However, simply try to make a visit to Sebatu village, Ubud subdistrict, Gianyar. It offers a very cool atmosphere, sustainable nature and positive aura. Moreover, when you are in the area of the Sebatu Temple having the springs coming out of a cliff, it is very good for melukat or purificatory rite or cleansing the self-impurities.

The beautiful and attractive Sebatu Temple exuding uniqueness can become your spiritual tourist destination. Armed with beautiful and natural scenery as well as crystal clear water, you will perceive truly magical atmosphere upon entering the temple courtyard. As the story by word of mouth, the Sebatu Temple is very sacred and magical. It has begun to be opened to general public some time ago. To reach the temple area, visitors have to step down some concrete stairs because the temple is perched right on a river bank.

According to the priest of Dalem Pingit Sebatu Temple, I Wayan Adi Armika, the springs coming out of the cliff posed the venue of purificatory rite, cleansed all the impurities within the body and spirit. Miracles and the uniqueness of the springs were discovered on November 19, 2007. They could change color when people were showering. It would change into red, muddy, yellow and other colors in accordance with the karmic condition of the people showering.

After discovering the miracles, local community consulted them to God Almighty through a special ritual. It was held on November 24, 2007 coinciding with Tumpek Landep. It was then coming down the Goddess Angel (Sang Hyang Dedari) who told if the springs were the bathing place of the Dalem Pingit and Dalem Kusti Temple.

To know the benefits and the efficacies, explained Jero Mangku Armika, local community consulted again to Ida Ratu Sanghyang at Pujung Temple through a special ritual. Then, it was coming down the son of Ratu Sanghyang. “He told nothing about the specific use of the springs, but he just warned that children whose teeth had not fall out are not allowed to do the purificatory rite,” he said.

Further, Jero Mangku explained that one of the residents fell into trance. Having been tested with huge fire, the resident in trance was washing his face with the fire. “It was then coming down the Goddess Uma who said if the holy water served to melt the dasa mala (ten inner-self impurities) and black magic influence as well as can give offspring to couples having difficulty to get it. However, she did not explain about the different colors of the springs,” he said.

With such information, the local community then agreed to establish a shrine beside the springs. He advised the purificatory rite should be made on holy days. Meanwhile, the ban was applied to women being in their period, people in cuntaka period or temporarily impure due the death of family members and children before falling out their teeth. “Formerly, there was a pilgrim who broke the ban, so that it fell into trance,” he said.

When wishing to do purificatory rite, simply prepare a banten pejati, kwangen with 11 perforated coins as well as blue water lily and gardenia flower. Every full moon, new moon, Kajeng Kliwon (encounter of the tree and five-day week in Balinese calendar) and other holy days, the local temple is of service. “I do not dare say if it is true or effective. But, for sure, a lot of people came back to the temple to offer umbrellas and other paraphernalia. It was said all their pains have got recovered,” he said.

Procedures of the purificatory rite are first preceded with offering the banten pejati in the shrine and invoke for God’s blessing. Then, say prayers by using the kwangen oblation. Having got holy water, the kwangen is brought down to location of the purificatory rite. Afterward, put it between the eyebrows, and after sprinkled with holy water the kwangen is removed.

“Keep in mind, when performing the purificatory rite each pilgrim is not allowed to wear any jewelry of gold, silver or others,” he said. After the purificatory rite, it should be resumed with worship on the stone to take leave and ask for blessings.

Jero Mangku Artika said that the purificatory rite at the location was not only performed by Hindu community in Bali, but also by people from Kalimantan, Sumatra and Java. Even, many non-Hindu communities and foreign tourists also came here. (BTN/ocha/dewik/015)